Ukraine reports Russia launches new missile in Dnipro escalation
Ukraine reported that Russia launched a "new" ballistic missile at Dnipro, marking an escalation in the conflict. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy described it as having intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) characteristics, but a U.S. official later clarified it was an experimental medium-range missile. The missile was fired from the Astrakhan region, approximately 1,000 kilometers away. Ukraine's Foreign Ministry is seeking confirmation of the missile type and plans to request advanced air defense systems from Western allies, including the THAAD system. In response to the missile launch, explosions were reported in Kryvyi Rih, and damage occurred in Dnipro. The U.S. and some EU embassies in Kyiv temporarily closed due to fears of a retaliatory strike but reopened later.